Music: {allcanada} Winnipeg (22-22-6) at Philadelphia (29-14-5)

Monday, January 30, 2012

{allcanada} Winnipeg (22-22-6) at Philadelphia (29-14-5)

Winnipeg (22-22-6) at Philadelphia (29-14-5)

TV: TSN, CSP

Puck Drop: 7:00 pm EST Tue Jan 31, 2012

The Philadelphia Flyers would like to string together some wins following the All-Star break to make a strong push up the standings.

Another big game against the Flyers could lead the low-scoring Winnipeg Jets in the right direction.

The Flyers will try to end a five-game losing streak to the Jets franchise on Tuesday night when these teams meet in Philadelphia for the first time since the NHL's highest-scoring game since 1996.

Since winning a season-best seven straight from Dec. 2-15, Philadelphia (29-14-5) has gone 9-7-2 and alternated wins and losses in its last seven contests.

The Flyers, who capped off the unofficial first half of the season Jan. 24 with a 3-2 shootout victory at Florida, are fourth in the Eastern Conference with 63 points—three back of the Atlantic Division-leading New York Rangers.

"Once you get through January and even more to the point, once you get though February you really start seeing a playoff picture - you start to get excited about the spring, so February is a tough month and we really have a lot of work to do," coach Peter Laviolette told the Flyers' official website Monday.

Philadelphia will only have to travel twice in its next 10 games, but the club has lost five in a row at home in this series.

In the Jets' most recent visit Oct. 27, 15 players scored goals as Winnipeg left town with a 9-8 victory in the league's highest-scoring game since San Jose defeated Pittsburgh 10-8 on Jan. 13, 1996.

The Jets (22-22-6) extended their winning streak over the Flyers with a 6-4 home win Nov. 19.

"They kind of bring the best out of us," said captain Andrew Ladd, who scored the game-winner Oct. 27.

Jets coach Claude Noel hopes that continues as his team has scored four times during its three-game skid.

Winnipeg, which began its six-game stretch on the road before the break with losses to Carolina and the Rangers, has found the back of the net twice during its three-game road losing streak.

"We need to get more production from some players," said Noel, whose team is just five points off the Southeast Division lead despite losing nine of 12 this month. "I think there are some players that are in their own droughts, and I think they have to step up and play a little bit better."

Improved production from Blake Wheeler (no goals in the last six games), Kyle Wellwood (two in his last 29), and Bryan Little (no goals in 11 games) could help as Jets leading goal-scorer Evander Kane will miss a fourth consecutive game due to a concussion.

The Jets will also be without forwards Tim Stapleton (lower-body injury), Alexander Burmistrov (possible concussion) and defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (knee).

Philadelphia's Danny Briere and James van Riemsdyk are both likely out with concussions, and Jaromir Jagr is questionable after missing three games with a lower-body injury.

Flyers center Claude Giroux, who scored in Sunday's All-Star game, recorded three assists in the Nov. 19 defeat.

Philadelphia forward Scott Hartnell, the team leader with 25 goals, will look to continue his strong play after setting up two scores in his All-Star debut. He is tied with Briere with a team-best five points against Winnipeg this season.

Hartnell and rookie Matt Read each have three goals in this matchup in 2011-12.

The Jets franchise has won nine of 10 versus Philadelphia after losing 14 straight in this series.